Electric insect destroyer



April 15, 1930. A. J. FROST ELECTRIC INSECT DESTROYER Filed July 9, 1926 IN VEN TOR.

Patented vApr. 15, 1930 ANSON J. FROST, F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON ELECTRIC- msncr DESTROYER Application filed iruly 9, 1926 Serial No. 121;17s.

This invention relates to electric insect destroyers of the general type, especially where used in doors or window'sashes for screening and protecting buildings against insects, wherein a plurality of lengths of-elecrically charged wiresof alternate polarity are disposed adjacent and parallel to each other in such a manner that the insects will be electrocuted by completing or closing the normally open circuit that is maintained, the

current reachingthe adjacent wires through the bodies of the insects that come in contact v with, or in close proximity to, said wires.

J ,The invention relates more particularly to insect destroyers of the general type in which two wires are employed which extend parallel and adjacent to each other throughout the length or width of the supporting frame on which electrical connections are mounted on parallel insulating strips along the edges of the supporting frame to which said wlres are secured-by either being provided with a number of reverse bends, or by being led across the frame in opposite directions, or in serpentine or zig-zag fashion.-

In a device of this character it is absolutely essential that the wires be properly insulated from eachother, as well as from the supporting frame, and that the insulating material used beof such form and composition as to be of sufiicient strengthand electrical resistance, and to also be of such character as to permit the device to be readily and economically manufactured. It is also desirable that the insulation strips used be centrally disposed 1 on the inner edges ofthe supporting frame in order to prevent the tension of the wires from twi ting or warping the frame or sash. 'Ilnder these circumstances, the princlpal objects of my invention are to furnish an electric insect destroyer providedwith a suitable form of insulating and supporting material permitting rapid and economical manufacture and which will also constltute an 1mproved means for insulating the parallellengths or runs of wire forming the energized grid from each other and whichwill also rigidly support and insulate the wires from the supporting frame or sash. A further object of this invention is to furnish an insulating strip.

to be centrally disposed on the inner edge of the sash or' frame, thereby preventing the warping or distortion of the sash through the tension ofthe wires. Another object of the invention is to produce an insulatingstrip of such form as'to admit of rapid and economical manufacture of electric insect destroyers of the type indicated.

The novel device by which the invention is carried out will appear fully from the description andclaims.

In'the drawings, wherein the numerals refer to the same parts throughout the views,

Fig. 1 is a plan view, somewhat in perspective, showing my invention applied to a screen frame, I

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view showing a portion of the insulating strip used in the Fig. 1 form of device,

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view showing a portionof a'modified form of insulating strip,

- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a second modified form of insulating strip,

Fig. 5 is a',transverse sectional view taken thigpugh one side of the frame shown in Fig. 1,1 an

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the method of attaching an insulating strip of my invention to'a metallic screen frame. w

Referring to Fig. 1, the letter A indicates 30 a wooden sash frame provided with insulating strips land 2 upon the inner sides of its side members. The insulating strip 2 is shown en larged in Fig. 2 and is-provided with two rows of substantially U-shaped slots or cuts 6 and b, respectively, the slots bbeing staggered with. respect to the slots b. It will be seen that a wire 3 of negative polarity. can be threaded into one of the slots 7) and pulled down into the end of-one of the extremities of the slot and then passed across and threaded into the other extremity of the same slot.

Negative wires 3 would be threaded in the slots 12' and positively charged wires -would be threaded in slots 72, or vice versa. The insulating strip -1 shown in detail in Fig. 3 and used on the other sideoj frame A is generally similar to strip 2 except that it is designed to facilitate the'placing of the wires in the screen. To this end, a transverse-slot connected by a transverse slot extending to the edge of the strip; Positive wires 4 coul be placed in the slots b and negative wires 3 in the slots b.

Strips of the forms shown in Figs. 2, 3 or 4 may be used either in pairs or two strips of one of these three types may be used as a pair.

A method of securing the insulated wiresu orting strips in a wooden frame is shown in i 5. 7 It W11]. be seen that the frame need only slotted on its inner side and the strip 1 or 2 lacedin this slot and secured by a screw The strip of course prevents the frame from warping and otherwise reinforces it. The strips canbe secured in a metal frame in the manner shown in Fig. 6, the strip being placedbetween the frame-C, and a plate (1 and the frame C, strip 1 and plate d riveted or otherwise secured together.

It will be seen from the above that the wires 3 and 4 will be spaced equidistant from each other throughout their respective lengths and will be so closely spaced as to prevent insects from passing between them without touching both wires and thus completing the circuit and being electrocuted, (/urrent can be supplied the wires from any suitable source.

- I claim:

' 1. An electric insect destroyer comprising a frame, insulating strips at the opposite sides of said frame, each of said strips being provided with-two rows of slots, the slots of one row beinghstaggered with respfect to the slots of the ot er row, said strips in vidd with slots extending from one e e of the strips and through a slot in each 0 the rows of slots and wires supported in said first named slots. J

pro-

and terminating within the margin of the strip, and wires engaged and supported in the ends of pairs of said branch slots.

4. An electric insect destroyer comprising a frame, insulating strips positioned on opposite sides of said frame, each of said strips having a series of slots therein, each slot comprising a pair of substantially parallel slots ous conducting wires having loops engaged in pairs of said transverse slots.

5. An electric insect destroyer comprising a frame, insulating strips positioned on opposite sides of saidlframe, each of said strips having a series of slots therein, each slot comprising a pair of substantially parallel slots and a transverse connecting slot, and continuous conductingwires of opposite polarity disposed in alternate parallel relation across the frame, adjacent lengths or runs of said wires being connected by loops or return bends, each loop being engaged and supported in a palr of sa1d transverse slots.

6. An electric insect destroyer comprising a frame, insulating strips positioned on opposite sides of said frame, each of said strips having a Series of angled slots providing a series of parallel wire-retaining tongues, and wires engaged in the angles of the slots and retained in position by said tongues.

7. An electric insect destroyer comprising a frame, insulatin site sides of said frame, each of said StIlpS having a series of angled slots therein pro viding a series of parallel wire-retaining tongues, and continuous conducting wires of o posite polarity disposed in alternate para lel 'relation across the frame, adjacent lengths or runs of said wires being connected by loops or return bends, each loop being enand a transverse connecting slot, and continustrips positioned on oppoa gaged in the angles of said slots and retained in osition by said tongues.

11 testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

.ANSON .I. FROST,

2. An electric insect destroyer comprising a frame, insulatin strips at the op osite sides of said frame, eac of s'aid strips ing pro- -vided with two rows of angled slots, the slots of one row being staggered with respect to theslots of the other row, said strips being provided with slots extending from one edge ofthe strips and through a slot in each ofthe rows of slots and wiressupported in said named slots. k

3. An electric insect destroyer comprising a frame, insulating strips positioned on opposite sides of said frame, each of said strips having a row of slots therein, each slot havmg a pair of branch slots at an angle thereto- 

